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Editor's picks

CMA to reveal initial view on Ofgem appeals next week
The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) will publish a summary of its responses to the eight appeals against the RIIO2 price controls for gas and transmission networks next week. The appeals centre around the cost of capital and the outperformance wedge.
News
Institutional energy reforms are ‘unfinished business’
The institutional reforms to the energy industry recently proposed by the government and Ofgem represent “unfinished business,” an influential academic has argued. Catherine Mitchell, professor of energy policy at the University of Exeter, described the proposals as “tantalising” and stated: “It’s really irritating that they just have not gone that extra step.”
News
Ofwat confirms temporary price increases for retail
Ofwat has confirmed its decision to temporarily increase the maximum prices business retailers are permitted to charge as a result of increased levels of bad debt. Under the regulator's plans, where bad costs across the market exceed 2 per cent of revenue, retailers will bear 25 per cent of the costs, with the rest passed on to customers.
News

Featured

It’s all a matter of judg(e)ment
The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is due to deliver its preliminary judgement on the appeals against Ofgem’s RIIO2 price controls next month. In her latest column exclusively for Utility Week members, Maxine Frerk examines what we can learn from the arguments put forward so far.
Opinion
Offering a helping hand
Energy suppliers representing 90 per cent of domestic customers have signed up to fresh commitments to support those worried about paying bills this winter. Energy UK deputy chief executive Audrey Gallacher looks at what else the sector is doing to help struggling billpayers.
Opinion
Regulating for success in addressing climate change
As part of our Countdown to COP focus on the future of regulation, the National Infrastructure Commission’s Giles Stevens gives his view on why overhauling the regulatory process is essential for meeting the net-zero target.
Opinion

Latest in Regulation

Scammers using green home schemes to target consumers
Scammers are taking advantage of legitimate green home improvement schemes to defraud consumers of money, industry experts have warned. New figures from Action Fraud obtained by consumer group Which? revealed that the “fear and confusion” resulting from soaring bills is being exploited by criminals to ramp up their energy-related scams
News
Should DSOs be separate from networks?
Having confirmed plans to completely separate the Electricity System Operator from National Grid and establish a fully independent Future System Operator by 2024, Ofgem is now exploring potential options for system operation at the distribution level. In the first of a two-part series, Utility Week looks at the positions taken by electricity distribution networks, both in their RIIO ED2 business plans and their responses to a call for input by the regulator.  
Analysis
Trend of ‘ever cheaper’ renewables ‘may be at an end’
Maturing technology, combined with mounting pressure on global supply chains, means the previous trend of “ever cheaper” renewables “may be at an end.” Renewable UK issued the warning as it released a new manifesto for achieving the government’s aim of creating net zero power grid by 2035.
News
Ofgem supplier clampdown ‘risks hindering net zero efforts’
Ofgem’s tightening of regulations risks hindering the supplier market contributing to the achievement of net zero, the National Audit Office has warned in a new report, which puts a £2.7 billion price tag on recent supplier failures.
News
Ofwat insists customers can’t subsidise multi-sector reservoirs
A report into the feasibility of developing multi-sector reservoir (MSR) systems has warned there are likely to be “trade-offs” between the benefits of collaborating and the risks that could be introduced. In responding to the analysis, Ofwat stressed that public water supply customers must not end up subsidising other users’ access to a MSR.
News
Ring-fencing proposals are a ‘positive’ for Centrica
Ofgem’s proposals to obligate suppliers to ring-fence customer credit balances are “a positive” for Centrica, an industry expert has said. Senior Investec analyst Martin Young talks to Utility Week about the impact of the proposals and the balance of encouraging sustainable businesses while preserving competition in the market.
News
Price cap predicted to rise to £3,000
Industry analysts have predicted that the price cap on default tariffs will rise to £2,980 when the next period begins in October. This would represent an increase of more than £1,000 - or 51% - over the current record-high level of £1,971.
News
Building a retail energy market fit for the future
Following a year defined by high wholesale costs and supplier failures, Citizens Advice has announced it is launching an Energy Price Support Review which will explore in detail which consumers will need protection in the future and how best to support them. Writing for Utility Week Gillian Cooper, the charity’s head of energy policy, discusses the key issues considered during a roundtable of senior industry representatives.
Opinion
Government mulls clamp down on wind farm CfD delays
The government is examining changes to the rules governing Contracts for Difference (CfD) projects to prevent developers delaying their participation in the support scheme in order to take advantage of soaring wholesale market electricity prices. During a debate on updates to the CfD regulations in the House of Lords, energy minister Lord Callanan said the government has already made it clear to the industry that such actions are "not within the spirit of the scheme".
News
Octopus chief slams ‘financially illiterate’ ring-fencing plans
Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson has slammed Ofgem’s plans to force suppliers to ring-fence customers' credit balances as "ill-considered" and "financially illiterate". The company said there “much more stringent measures” available which would not add as much to bills.
News
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